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Players Index Page Last Updated
12 August 2025
 
 

Billy Bradshaw

Blackburn Rovers FC

 4 appearances, 0 goals

P 4 W 3 D 1 L 0 F 12: A 5
88% successful
1910-13

captain: none
minutes played: 360

Timeline
  William Bradshaw
Birth Thursday, 3 April 1884 at 56 Ingham Street, Padiham, Lancashire
  registered in Burnley April-June 1884
 

According to the 1891 census, William is the sixth child of eight to James and Sarah Ann (née Dewhurst), living at 17 Whitaker Street in Hapton. His father is a loom overlooker.
 

According to the 1901 census, William is one of five and he is a tripe dresser, still with their parents living at 13 Church Street in Padiham.
Marriage to Nancy Jane Duxbury, Tuesday, 12 September 1905 at St Leonard's Church, Padiham, Lancashire, as a professional footballer.
  registered in Burnley July-September 1905
Children Billy and Nancy Bradshaw have four daughters together. Edna (b.8 February 1906), Gladys (b.28 March 1910), Dorothy (b.March 1912) and Elsie (b.14 May 1921).
 

According to the 1911 census, William, a professional footballer, married to Nancy Jane, with two daughters, Edna and Gladys. They live at 81 Stockbridge Road in Padiham.
His father died on 1 Debruary 1916 in Padiham
  According to the 1921 census, William is a professional footballer, still married to Nancy Jane, and with two more daughters, Dorothy and Elsie, they live at 107 Scotland Road in Blackburn.
His wife, Nancy, died towards the end of 1927. His mother died 16 October 1932.
  According to the 1939 register, widower William, a labourer at the engineering foundry, is living at 105 Walton Street in Blackburn, with their daughter, Elsie.
Death Monday, 6 June 1955 in Blackburn, Lancashire, He was living at 105 Walter Street in Blackburn
aged 71 years 64 days registered in Blackburn April-June 1955
Obituary
"BRADSHAW DIES
"Billy Bradshaw, the former Blackburn Rovers half-back who gained Caps for England against Wales in 1910 and 1913, and Ireland in 1910 and 1912, died in Blackburn yesterday, aged 71." - The Guardian Journal, Tuesday, 7 June 1955
Funeral Thursday, 9 June 1955 at St Leonard's Church, Padiham. Billy is buried with his wife, Nancy.
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990] &

Playing Career

Club(s)		 ed his football career with local side Padiham FC, before signing with Accrington Stanley FC. Blackburn Rovers FC signed him in May 1903 for £20 transfer fee. Bradshaw became the player~manager at Rochdale AFC between 6 July and September 1920.
League honours
386 appearances, 36 goals		 Blackburn Rovers FC 1903-20 386 appearances, 36 goals
debut: 12 September 1903 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 1 Blackburn Rovers FC 0.
last: 28 February 1920 Chelsea FC 2 Blackburn Rovers FC 1.

Club honours		 Football League Division One third place 1909-10 (34ᵃ 4ᵍ), 1914-15 (20ᵃ 2ᵍ), Champions 1911-12 (36ᵃ 3ᵍ), 1913-14 (27ᵃ 3ᵍ);
FA Cup semi-finalist 1910-11 (2ᵃ), 1911-12 (7ᵃ);
FA Charity Shield winners 1912;
Individual honours Football League (four appearances)
Distinctions His brothers Vic, Jack and Ernie played for Blackpool, Accrington Stanley and Burnley, around the dawn of the 20th century - Lancashire Telegraph, 30 January 2008
Height/Weight 5' 8", 10st. 10lbs [1910].
Source

Douglas Lammings' An English Football Internationalist Who's Who [1990].

England Career
Player number One of five who became the 344th players (347) to appear for England.
Position(s) Left-half
First match No. 105, 12 February 1910, Ireland 1 England 1, a British Championship match at Solitude Ground, Cliftonville, Belfast, aged 25 years 315 days.
Last match No. 115, 17 March 1913, England 4 Wales 3, a British Championship match at Ashton Gate, Ashton Vale, Bedminster, Bristol, aged 28 years 348 days.
Major tournaments British Championship 1909-10, 1911-12, 1912-13;
Team honours British Championship shared 1911-12, winners 1912-13;
Individual honours None
Distinctions None

Beyond England
No additional information. - An English Football Internationalists' Who's Who. Douglas Lamming (1990). Hatton Press, p.42.


The Numbers
parties Appearances comp. apps minutes captain
4 4 4 360 0 none
The minutes here given can only ever be a guideline and cannot therefore be accurate, only an approximation.

Billy Bradshaw - Match Record - All Matches - By Type of Match
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
Home 1 1 0 0 4 3 +1 0 0 4.00 3.00 100.0 +1
Away 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 0 1 2.667 0.667 83.3 +2
All - British Championship 4 3 1 0 12 5 +7 0 1 3.00 1.20 87.5 +3

Billy Bradshaw - Match Record - Tournament Matches
British Championship Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 1909-10 2 1 1 0 2 1 +1 0 1 1.00 0.50 75.0 +1
BC 1911-12 1 1 0 0 6 1 +5 0 0 6.00 1.00 100.0 +1
BC 1912-13 1 1 0 0 4 3 +1 0 0 4.00 3.00 100.0 +1
BC All 4 3 1 0 12 5 +7 0 1 3.00 1.20 87.5 +3
All Competition
Type P W D L F A GD FTS CS FAv AAv Pts% W/L
BC 4 3 1 0 12 5 +7 0 1 3.00 1.20 87.5 +3
All 4 3 1 0 12 5 +7 0 1 3.00 1.20 87.5 +3

Billy Bradshaw - Match History
 Club: Blackburn Rovers F.C. - 4 full appearances

F.A. International Select Committee - 4 full capsx

Age 25
1 105 12 February 1910 - Ireland 1 England 1, Solitude Ground, Belfast BC AD   lh
2 106 14 March 1910 - Wales 0 England 1, Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff AW   lh
Age 27
3 111 10 February 1912 - Ireland 1 England 6, Dalymount Park, Dublin BC AW   lh
Age 28
4 115 17 March 1913 - England 4 Wales 3, Ashton Gate. Bedminster BC HW   lh